Button



(No Model.)

- J. W. BEAUMONT.

BUTTON.

Patented Oct. 8, 1895.

AM DREW RURAHANL PHOTOUTNQWASNINGTON. n c

ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. BEAUMONT, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

urrow.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,410, dated October8, 1895. Application filed January 1 9, 1 89 5. Serial No. 5 3 5,426 (NomodeL) To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, JAMES W. BEAUMONT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Waterbury, in the county of New Haven, in the State ofConnecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inButtons, of which the following is a specification.

My improved button is of the class adapted to be secured to a garmentwithout sewing. It may be separated from the garment at will tofacilitate washing and ironing and may be again securely attached withlittle labor. The button is in two parts applied upon opposite sides ofthe garment. I equip one part with two nearly parallel prongs connectedby an efficient spring contained within one of the parts, which willyield to allow the prongs to be each forced inward toward the center ofthe button. These two prongs and springs are carried in the fastener,the part which applies on the Wrong side or inner side of the garment,and engage with the button by locking therewith under proper conditions.

As a preparation for attaching the button, the fastener is brought intothe required position on the inside of the garment and the two prongs intheir easy or distended position are thrust through the garment andpresent their points on the right side or outer side. The body or headwhich applies on the outside of the garment is hollow, and its back orcollet has two oblong and obliquely-arranged, or more properly, voluteslots or apertures, which receive, respectively, the two prongs. Next,the fastener being firmly held, the body is turned about a quarter of arevolution and the prongs are thereby reliably engaged with the body.The button will remain engaged until the body is turned back to or nearits original position relatively to the fastener and prongs. I give sucha form to the parts that such a rotation of the body is resisted withsufficient force to hold the button engaged under all conditions of use.When it is desired to disengage the button from the fastener, the lattermay be again held and the body turned with force in the oppositedirection to that which was required to eifect the engagement. Aquarter-revolution carries it back to its original position, and now itcan be removed, leaving the prongs free. After the removal of the bodythe fastener and prongs can be withdrawn in the obvious manner. Thegarment may then be washed or otherwise treated without the button, anda repetition of the proper movements will again engage the two parts ofthe button together properly fixed to the garment, as at first. The formof the slots in the collet of the button and of the prongs which are toengage therein are carefully adapted to the requirements, so as to notonly resist a pulling strain, but also to preventaccidental turning ofthe parts and yet allow a turning by application of sufficient force, soas to unlock when required. I scallop the edges of the collet of thebutton and of the corresponding inner plate of the fastener, so thatwhen the adjacent plate is compressed thereon it will engage it toprevent its being turned.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification andrepresent What I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure l is a side elevation of the button body and fastener in place inthe garment. Fig. 2 is a corresponding central cross-section. Fig. 8 isa view of the button-body alone seen from the rear. Fig. 4 is a View ofthe fastener seen from the front. Fig. 5 is a section through the colletalone, and Fig. 6 is a similar View of a portion of the fastener. Fig. 7is a central cross-section showing the relation of the parts at acertain stage in the manipulations to effect the engagement ordisengagement of the button. Figs. 8 and 9 are central cross-sections ofportions showing modifications. Fig. 10 shows a modified form of thepoints of the prongs.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures where they appear.

The body or main portion of the button is marked G H, and will bedescribed further on.

A is the portion of the garment to which the button is to be attached.

B is a fastenerspring, of hard brass wire or other suitable material,bent into a curve to lie on the back of the garment and having the endsB turned at right angles and extending parallel to each other, pointedto penetrate the garment from the inside and formed with aslightly-reduced neck B and a fiattened and widened portion B adapted toengage by its offsets B B The curved portion of against the inner faceof in the button-body. this spring applies the garment, separatedtherefrom only by a thin plate C of brass, a slot c in which plateallows the required motion of the prongs together and apart when thebody is partially rotated to engage and disengage the parts. The formmay be given to the prongs by flattening and cutting by machinery.

O is a flange turned up on the rim.

D is the top of the fastener, formed also of thin brass. D is a flangeformed on this cap, embracing the flange These flanges are of such depththat the case 0 D, with its flanges C D, reliably incloses and protectsthe curved portion B of the spring-fastener, butleaves it free to exertits elastic motion. In the manufacture of these parts the wire is firstflattened to produce the radiallywidened end B and the flattening to aless extent may be impressed also on the part which is to constitute theneck. Then the ends of the wire thus flattened and broadened are treatedin cutting-dies, and a portion is cut out from the side of each, leavingthe metal properly reduced to form the necks B and to leave the propershoulders or offsets B The button-body is composed of two shells ofmetal G H, the collet or back being marked G and formed with the usualflange G and usual hub G The front cap is larger and flanged over andengaged with the collet by the flange A, in the ordinary manner. Thereare two smoothly-punched apertures or slots, which are the counterpartsof each other,

- forming volute curves, as shown. The main body of each slot is markedg, a rounded offset or notch on the outer side at the inner end of eachis marked g, and a deeper notch or widening on the inner side of eachslot g near the outer end is marked The fiattened parts B of both theprongs lie in the same plane. In applying the parts together, orseparating them, these flattened parts B coincide approximately with theslots g, and by the aid of the widenings g g they can be readilyinserted and removed. The parts are engaged reliably by first applyingthe body in such position that the flattened parts B will be receivedeach in its respective slot 9 and widening g and then turning the bodyforcibly around relatively to the fastener. This movement transfers theprongs each into the other end of its respective slot, and by theirelastic force they each spring out into the corresponding slight notchg. In this position they are held reliably by the engagement of theiroffsets B B within the collet G of the main body. There is also anofiset B on the opposite side of each prong fromthe offset B The metal Bextends down on the neck farther on one side than on the other-that isto say, the offset B is lower-down or farther from the point of theprong than the offset 13. This contributes to the security of thelocking. Then the prongs are in their most distended condition, thebutton-body is applied in the position to engage the prongs in the outerends of the slots g, and the body and fastener being forced stronglytogether the prongs are inserted into the body beyond the offset 13Holding them thus compressed together the parts are turned relatively toeach other and the necks B are each transferred by sliding along intheir respective slots till each reaches the offset or notch g, whichlies on the outer side of the respective slot 9 at the inner end. Nowthe elastic force of the spring B snaps the'prongs apart and presses thenecks B B each into its respective notch g. Now the pull on thefastener, due to the elastic resilience of the fabric A, will draw theprongs slightly out from the body, this outward movement obtaining tothe limited extent due to the difference in position of the offsets B BIn this movement the offset B is drawn into a position a little withinthe thickness of the metal of the collet G. The offset B now assertsitself and by striking against the inner face of the collet G preventsany further withdrawing of the fastener. Now the button is fastened. Itcannot be drawn out farther by reason of the offset B and the partscannot be turned back to their original positions until the two prongsare moved nearer together, so that the necks B can escape from thenotches 9. Such drawing together of the prongs cannot be effected,because the flattened portion of eachimmediately adjacent to its offsetB strikes the opposite side of the slot 9 and prevents such movement.The locking thus effected is very efficient. In order to unlock thebutton, the fastener must be again forced inward or into the body, againcompressing the fabric (not shown) until the offset B is again withinthe interior of the button; then holding the parts in that condition andapplying sufficient force the slight engagement of each neck B in thecorresponding rounded notch 9' may be overcome, and the prongs beingsufficiently moved together in opposition to their elastic force thenecks can be traversed outward, each in its respective-slot g, and wheneach is at or sufficiently near the outer end of its slot the flattenedportion B will again coincide with the aperture, and the parts of thebutton can be separated.

In fastening the button to a garment the prongs are first thrust throughand are allowed to protrude at the required points on the front or outerface of the garment and the body G H is brought into position so thatits apertures or volute slots g receive the prongs, one in each, afterwhich we proceed as above described. The button may be used in all theordinary ways and with the ordinary effect. A feature of much importanceis involved in the fact that the breadth of each tapering flattenedportion B is greater than the entire width of the aperture gg, as

it is presented while the parts are in the locked position. Even if theoffsets B B in the prongs are not squarely cut, and there is asufficient force impressed on the button by a direct pull and a shakingmotion or by any other means to force the prongs inward toward the axisof the button against the resistance of the spring B, the prongs cannotmake such movement until the buttn-body is turned a quarter-revolutionrelatively to the back or fastener, and this cannot be so turned inwarduntil the body and fastener have been forcibly compressed togetherfacewise. This is due to the breadth of the flat portion beyond theoffset B being greater than the breadth of the aperture 9 g.

In applying together the parts 0 D, which form the casing of thefastener, and the parts G H, which form the larger and conspicuousportion of the button, the dies should be so formed and operated thatthe parts will take a sufficiently firm hold on each other-that is tosay, the flange D should be compressed down upon the flange C withsufficient force to allow the fastener to be held by grasping the capalone, and the flange H must be pressed down upon the flange G withsufficient force to allow the entire body to be turned in eitherdirection with the required force by grasping the cap. To facilitate theturning of the interior part by the exterior,

' prong straight on the inner side.

I scallop the flanges G G, and when the dies impress their force on theouter flanges D H the metal of the outer flange is sufficientlydistorted and compressed into these scallops. The slot 0 extendsdiametrically across the center of the inner plate 0 of the fastener.Its length corresponds with the greatest distance to which the prongs Bare to be allowed to separate. The spring B may have a force tendingtohold the prongs far ther apart, so that they shall tend to move apartreliably to that extent. The offsets or slight notches g should becarefully proportioned, so as to allow the necks B of the prongs to bereceived, and hold the parts with gentle force against beingaccidentally turned, but allow them to be turned by the application of asufficient force when the button-body and the fastener are sufficientlycompressed together facewise, in order to separate the parts of thebutton.

Modifications may be made by any good mechanic without departing fromthe principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. I haveshown the points of the prongs as sufficiently sharp to be thrust by aproper force through the fabric. For some purposes, as cuff-fasteners,where this duty is not required, the ends may be blunt. Parts of theinvention can be used without the whole. Instead of making the offsets13 lower than the offsets 13 with the advantage of giving the increasedlocking due thereto, as described, I can make the offsets B B exactly inline, and the button can always be released by applying suflicient forceto bring the necks out of their notches against the considerable elasticforce of the spring B. Fig. 8 shows such a modification. I can dispensewith the offsets 13 and make the entire length of each Fig. 9 shows Ican, if preferred, flatsuch a modification.

ten the points B alone, leaving the necks full size. Such necks arestronger and turn better in the slots. Fig. 10 shows such a prong.

I claim as my invention 1. In a separable button, a spring fastenercarrying two prongs having offsets, in combination with a body havingtwo volute slots each having two notches, one near each end adapted toengage and release the prongs by a partial revolution of the button, asherein specified.

2. In a separable button, the spring B, car rying two prongs 13, eachhaving a neck 13 a flattened end B with two offsets B and B at differentdepths, 'in combination with a body G, H, having slots 9 arrangedobliquely, and rounded notches g, adapted to be locked by both a partialturning and an axial movement and to be held engaged until bothmovements are again imparted in the reverse direction, all substantiallyas herein specified.

3. In a separable button, the spring B carrying two prongs B, havingflattened ends B with offsets B B inclosed in a casing C, D, having aslot 0 to allow the prongs to move apart to a definitely limited extent,in combination with the body G, H, having two slots 9 arrangedobliquely, each having a notch g at the outer side of their innerends,arranged to engage and release the prongs by turning and to hold themgently against being turned by accident, and to allow them to bereleased when required, all substantially as herein specified.

at. In a separable button, the spring B, carrying two prongs 13, havingflattened ends 13 with offsets B B inclosed in a casing O, D, having aslot 0 to allow the prongs to move apart to a definitely limited extent,in combination with the body G, H, having two slots 9 arrangedobliquely, each having a rounded notch g, at the outer side of theirouter ends, arranged to engage and release the prongs by turning and tohold them gently against being turned by accident and to allow them tobe released when required,and also a widen ing 9 on the inner side ofits outer end, all substantially as herein specified.

5. In a separable button, having locking means, as the prongs B on thefastener and slots 9 in the body, adapted to be engaged and disengagedby forcibly turning the body and fastener relatively to each other, thesealloped flanges O and Gembraced by the caps D and H respectively, andcompressed together with sufficient force to imprint the scallops onsuch caps and thereby insure the turning of such parts by turning thecaps, as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses. 7

JAMES W. BEAUMONT. Witnesses:

HENRY W. ATWOOD, FRANK I-I. TROWBRIDGE.

